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Canada

A Nanaimo, B.C., shooting victim arrives at Vancouver General Hospital. At least four people were injured in a shooting at the Western Forest Products in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. (Photo by Cathy O'Connor)

A 47-year-old man has been charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder after a shooting at a Nanaimo, B.C., mill Wednesday morning.

Kevin Douglas Addison of Nanaimo, a former employee of Western Forest Products, was remanded into custody late Wednesday and is expected in court again Thursday morning.

Addison is accused of opening fire at the mill, killing 61-year-old Michael John Lunn and 53-year-old Fred James McEachern.

Two other men were also shot. Sarah Plank, of Island Health, said Wednesday a victim airlifted to Victoria General Hospital was in critical condition, while another was in stable condition at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Police responded to shots fired at the mill at about 7 a.m. Wednesday. Some of the shots were fired in the parking lot area, while the remainder happened in the office, police said.

A shotgun was seized at the scene.

Police did not speculate on the motive behind the attack and said little additional information would be released so as not to "jeopardize the court process."

Company president and CEO Don Demens confirmed the suspect is a former employee.

Demens expressed his condolences to all the employees, their family and friends, and said all operations have been shut down "out of respect for our colleagues."

B.C. Premier Christy Clark said the victims and their families "should know they are not alone. The people of British Columbia are standing with them."